Flying machine



4 Sheets-Sheet l F. STEINMANN, SR

I FLYING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1932 April 4, 1933.

April 4, 1933. F. STEINMANN, SR

FLYING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 senescenceenana` April 4, 1933 F. STEINMANN, sR 1,903,345

FLYING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Ape-1, i933 1,903,345

UNITED STATES PATENT oEElcE FRANK STEINMAN N, SR., OF DE SOTD, MIISSQUB'IV FLYING MACHINE Application led February 18, 1932. Serial No. 593,8408.

This invention relates to flying machines shown, radio equipment might be located and is directed to numerous features of novthereon. elty adapted to facilitate the manipulation Figure 3 is a front elevation of the air- ,l of a plane when in the air, and obtain the plane showing the main wing in flying po- J highest eiiiciency when aligh'ting on water. sition with the extreme ends broken away. 55

The principal object of the present invention The landing wheels attached to the pontoons is to provide an improved fra-me structure of comprising. the main base of the machine, slotted box ltubing and riveted or welded also the arrangement of frame structures seam, boxtubing, longitudinal transverse made up of slotted box tubing especially and diagonal members, used in the general adapted for. use on the ground. 60

amewor'k, a plurality of pontoons connect- Figure 4 is a side elevation of the machine ed by vertical tubes to the maintaining wings, with the main wing detached preliminary to constitute the base for the machine, cone taxiing over the highways. shaped ends of pontoons adapted to engage Figure 5 is a fragmental assembly or to landing wheels, additional rear wheels, may View of the forward position of the operator s 65 be adjusted to rear cone shaped ends of ponadjusting and stabilizing contrivance, varitoons by means of sockets to t over said cones able pitch propeller blades and reversing sysand stay, bolt or -cotter key attached, wheels tem. provided with bearings, creating a wheeled Figure 6 is also a diagrammatic assembly truck for. ground service. v One other im. on enlarged'form of the crosshead incasing 70 portant improvement is the variable pitch the adjusting parts of propeller blades pivpropeller, extension propeller shaft pivotd' oted to motor shaft by means of universal by universal joint, its mechanism inclosed in joint. I lubricating oil container, this variable pitch Figure 7 is a lsectional view of plunger con- 2 propeller is operated from convenient point trolling the adjustment to vary the incidence 75 in reach of operators hand wheel, the revolvor pitchof propeller blades by means of ing variable pitch propeller sockets are entoothed circular blade roots. tirely inclosed in lubricating oil housing. By Figure 8 is a sectional end view of a plungchanging the blade angles the propeller efer regulating the opposite root blades by 33 iciency can be maintained maximum at varimeans of toothed shifting levers. 80

ous .forward speeds of the flying machine. Figure 9 is a fragmental end view of piv- By decreasing the pitch the engine speeds up oted crosshead. and greater pulling powers exerted when it Figure l0 is a view of the interior adjustis taking olf, when up to flying speed the ing mechanism to vary the incidence of pro- 5 angle of the blades is increased so that the peller blades connected with universal joint 85 pitch speed bears the most favorable relationV of motor shaft, all inclosed in lubricating to flying speed. oil container crosshead case.

Figure l is the top view of the general ar- Referring to the drawings 1 designates the rangement of the machine. fuselages or nacelle. Located at the forward 49 Figure 2 is the side elevation of the plane end is a detachable circular crosshead guide 3, 90 with landing wheels removed, showing in and inclosed in this lubricating case is plungparticuar the contrivance for manipulating er4. Aprojecting circular lug 10 engages the pivoted propeller in conjunction with plunger 4, connecting revolving toothed exstabilizing auxiliary wing around a circular tension rack 5, which meshes the toothed proguide, sheet metal fins, protruding from the peller root 6, which is held in position by 95 mouth of the main wing, shaped to a suitable socket 7, actuating adjustable propeller stream lined contrivance with its adjustblades 8 mounted `therein to vary the pitch ments for stabilizing the craft when in the or helix of propeller 8 by shifting plunger 4 air. Above the plane on the central vertical inclosed in tubular casing 3. Plunger 4 is 50 wing support or turret, machine gun is moved by rod 9, its threaded end engaging 100 lug 10. Rotating rod 9 is connected by means of universal joints 9 passing through the 'wall of crosshead casing 12, which extends transversely of said crosshead 4. Movement is transmitted to plunger 3 by extension rod -9 attached to hand wheel 14 located in convenient reach of operator thru suitably spaced universal joints on rod 9. Hand wheel 14 is adapted to manipulate the movement of plunger 4 which partly incloses pivoted motor shaft 15 mounted in ball bearings 16 and 17 securely attached to the revolving base of propeller socket 7 which forms the lubricating housing for the variable pitch propeller with its variation device mounted on the extension motor shaft 15, as .well as ball bearing 16, located in crosshead housing 12 -which properly attached prevents the loss of lubricating oil. Toothed lever 5 shifts in opposite direction, simultaneously varying the pitch of independent propeller blades 8 8. If it is assumed that the machine is taxiing on the ground its main wing 40 detached, varying the propeller blades 8 from neutral to any desired angle creates the desired power capacity, without the altering of motor speed, the rotating of hand wheel 14 manipulating the machine to the forward or rearward direction of flight, steering the machine to right or left on the ground. The steering mechanism of any suitable auto car may. be applied to the detachable cone, wheel base, part of a plurality of pontoons 41 4243, its novel design is the wheeled structure which serves to support the box tubing frame structures, front end steering wheels 39 39, and shift' rod 39 especially adapted for a farm to mar et vehicle. The rear end of fuselage 1x1 may be disconnected and a trailer may be attached to carry pay loads over highways.

Auxiliary stabilizing wing 44 is attached to guide 2. Slide 2a mounted on circular are 2 serves to hold propeller crosshead 3 and stabilizing wing 44 rigidly in shifting around the circular guide 2. A slotted box tubing frame makes up the stabilizing wing, its square shaped tubings 45 and 4'6 passing through circular arc disk, its slotted openings permitting tubes 45-46 to shift in the same direction of propeller 8 which is manipulated to any desired incidence of the flying machine. Extension motor shaft 15, at its extreme forward end engages revolving propeller socket base 18a by means of interior lug 18. The balanced base is provided with ballbearings 47 revolving in lubricating housing 3, the flow of lubrication being indicated byarrows. Intersecting joint head, revolving with ball bearing 19 inside bearing 3, casing 3, andrevolving head 18a serves to move the plunger and consequently shifting levers 5 5 and each toothed lever controls the movement of propeller blades 8 8 in the opposite direction. i

If an ascending flight is to be made hand wheel 51, in the hands of an operator is rotated and adjusting cables 53-54 are wound about drums 55 and 56. By rotating the wheel the propeller is adjusted around the circular bearing 2 which consists of two cast hollow box tubes which are fastened to the front end of cabin and are spaced apart so as to admit the extending motor shaft housing to move freely at the will of operator. This results in setting propeller 8, in conjunction with stabilizing wing 44, to a suitable angle ofincidence to make the ascension more rapid. Propeller blades 8 8 are adjusted accordingly, by means of hand wheel 14 transmitting rotating movement to rod 9 which is connected to universal joint 9*1 rotating threaded end in lug 10, which is attached to plunger 4. The interior of circular bearings form a runway for adjusting flexible cables 53-54 wound about drums S5-56, held in position by bearings 52 52. Larger diameter drums 60 6l, at the extreme ends of winding drum device, are in evidence and serve to operate the pivoted sheet metal fins (S4-65. Spaced box tubings 66 67 are for forming the stabilizing wing 68. The interior of these tubings are heated when at a high altitude preventing the exterior covering from icy coatings; for this purpose the central main wing support .69, located in the cabin constitutes a box tubing in vertical position, and adapted to furnish additional rigidity to the structure, and is a means to pivotally connect the main wing 40 thereon to be turned longitudinally with the fuselage when traveling on the ground. The interior of said box tubing support 69 may be utilized for a heating contrivance and the heated air is admitted to pass through pipes 70 71 into stabilizing wing 68 and the box tubing inserted in metal fins 64:-65 are shaplzd to a stream lined stabilizing wing 68 to be adjusted by means of cables 62 and 63, which are inclosed in a circular guide forming a runway for said cables to be attached to stabilizing contrivances to be shifted for simultaneously varying the incidence of the craft when in the air, stabilizing wing 44, manipulatlng in conjunction with wing 68 by rotating hand wheel 51. This adjustment is used to overcome the disturbing influence of dangerous air currents, nose dives or tail spins. The advantages'of this construction are evident, whereas other craft become helpless. In my invention it is merely necessary for the operator to adjust hand wheels 51 and 14 while the applying of rear elevators may be brought into service in normal flying, rudder of any convenient style preferable, steering the ship to right or left.

A number of elongated air or fuel tanks 41-42-43 serve to support the box tubing vframe structure constituting the pilots and passengers cabin and the various controlling I elements for the machine.

Pontoons 72- 73-74 are constructed from suitable light metal shaped in box style, its Hanged seams riveted to the cone fore and aft ends, welded seams preferred for landing wheel to be slipped on or removed by means of cotter key 77 or any suitablefastening device, rear ccntral wheel 77 may be attached in conjunction with front end landing wheels 39. Yokes or separators 80-80 two or more complete the wheeled truck or floating base of the machine. Additional braces 81-82 separate the vertical tubes 7 5-75-7 6-76, and the lower ends are securely fastened to flanged pontoons. `Wing supports 83-84 are used for a cross brace on both sides of the cabin when taxiing on the ground. Slotted box tubing 88 is used for the cabin and fuselage frame construction. A housing 89, a detachable power plant air cooling system with air passage 91 and a slotted box tubing 90 and a covering 89, make up the device, including separators or spacing blocks 98. In disclosing the construction of the slotted box tubing frame work end, view of tubing showing more particularly in Figure 6, end section of wing spar tubing 33 note V shaped impression 33" disclosing the advantage of having a secure hold of the inserted metal sheet covering 40. The filler 401 with its extending ends of sheet metal 64-65 has a corresponding V shaped impression meshing with 33" forming a self locking device, and the wing spar is made in two parts i bolted together by means of bolts 99.

Box tubing style is very eicient and suitable for all styles offrame work, a flanged tubing being vhand shaped open seam or welded, into a solid tubing of great strength. I have hereinbefore speclfically directed attention to my present invention disclosing the full and complete construction of a flying machine of the monoplane type covering novel methods in stabilizing air craft and creating a useful vehicle for road service by means of propulsion obtained from variable pitch propeller, reversing the machine in the direction of the desired flight eliminating the reversing mechanism used on auto cars.

I do not limit myself to the exact details described and shown, but consider as the equivalent of my invention all such forms as fall within the scope of the appended claims. i What I claim isz.

1. In a flying machine in combination wlth the main sustaining plane and cabin, a pivoted crosshead having a lubricating housing,

a pivoted motor shaft mounted on said cross-v head, a main propeller of variable pitch type mounted on said motor shaft, a stabilizing wing aixed to the underside of the crosshead,

an extension motor shaft located ill the in` terior of lubricating housing. nwans to move the pivoted crosshead by mealis of cables fixed to winding drums adapted to shift the pivoted motor shaft in conjunction with main for shifting the guides relative to the forward end of cabin, means in the interior of lubricating housing for shifting variable propeller bladesincluding encased therein a plunger pivoted to toothed levers for varying the pitch of propeller blades, ball bearings aiixed for extension motor shaft in the interior of lubricating crosshead housing, adjusting rod having a threaded end connected to the plunger and extending to a pilots operating hand wheel for manipulating the speed of machine and reversing the angle of propeller blades.

2. In a flying machine, a truss frame for main sustaining planes constructed of slotted V-shaped box tubing extending laterally of the machine adapted to retain covering in its interior V-shaped box tubing crevice, meshing sheet metal covering having its lateral portions extending through said slots into the interior of said box tubing, V-shaped impressions about the mouth receiving the seam of V-shaped portions which are held in its depression by a retaining sheet metal portion injected into the interior of tube, the extending ends thereof forming a fin utilized for stabilizing purposes and operable by the ilot in ascending for normal flying, for tiltlng the auxiliary device in emergency or in :conjunction with main propeller controlling 4spars adapted for afiixing a device for controlling lateral and longitudinal stability thereon, suitable rear end controlling elements, elevators and rudder, reversible propeller means to propel the machine -on the ground eliminating reversing mechanism such as used in modern automobile vehicles for reversing the direction of Hight and means for lubricating said reversing propeller.

4. In a flying machine having a main wing and a truss frame, oflight metal slotted box j tubing comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending air tanks forming the base of the machine, thus providing a floating contrivance when alighting on water, connecting means extending between said tanks, vertical supports of tubing attached to the tanks, adapted to engage with the main sustaimng wing by means of fastening device of bolts passing through said wing truss frame for convenient disconnection of wing from said vertical supports so that the wing may be turned longitudinal with the cabin, a central main support contrivance located in the interior of cabin and serving as the pivot for main wing truss frame, means for shifting the lateral position of wing longitudinal of the machine and parallel to the direction of flight when motorlng on the ground, the vertical main wing support consisting of a conel box tube shell adapted for heating the cabin and wings by means of tubing connections tomain wing stabilizing attachment frame provided to be manipulated from the pilots hand wheel device for preventing tail spins and nose dives.

5. In a flying vehicle, a truss frame of slotted box tubing adapted to house a power plant, in conjunction with operators and passengers cabin, rear end controlling elements of any suitable design, rudder and elevators, a front end circular propeller guide and housing adapted for discolllnection for inspecting, propeller driving and blade shifting mechanism mounted in said housing, means for lubricating the housing interior and propeller blades shifting contrivance, comprising of a hand wheel in reach of operator, longitudinal slotted box tubing frame for fuselage formed with larger circular front end embracing the power plant and operators cabin, means to strengthen the framework at suitable intervals in the interior of the fuselage tapering to rear end, suitably arranged to locate elevators and rudder thereon, a plurality of air tanks running longitudinally of the machine and forming in conjunction with the cabin a base for the machine cone-shaped front and rear ends on said air tanks and adapted to attach or disconnect suitable running gears to meet requirements for doing useful work when taxiing on the ground and specially designed cone ends for flying over water.

6. In a flying machine, in combination with a detachable main plane consisting of a plurality of parallel slotted box tubes, a centrally located closed tube running trans- Versely and parallel with said slotted tubes flexible metal covering having its side portions passing through -the slots in the vtubes into the interior of boX tubes, means in the tubes to retain theside portions of the planes with the tubes, means extending through the pair of slotted tubes into space creating stabilizing fins, a hand controlled stabilizing wing, running parallel with main plane, means for adjusting said tilting stabilizing mount thereon any suitable head light machine gun or instrument for night ying.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature this 18th day of October, 1932.

` FRANK STEINMANN, SR.

wings, floats especially adapted to engage or disengage the wheeled convertible turret to the centrally located tank, engaged to the Vertlcally axed turret or pivot adapted to 

